Undeterred by her GP, she logged into\u00a0ChatGPT<\/a>, typing: \u2018Kids develop tummy ache five days after a holiday \u2013 what could it be?\u2019<\/p>\n The\u00a0AI<\/a>\u00a0chatbot suggested, among other things, that he could be infected with a parasite, such as the\u00a05mm-long cryptosporidium<\/a>.<\/p>\n Armed with this new information, she returned to her doctor, who insisted her son would be sicker if he had one.<\/p>\n To be safe, the GP offered a stool sample test, which came back positive \u2013 Claire\u2019s son had, in fact, caught a parasite, most likely from a swimming pool.<\/p>\n \u2018I wouldn\u2019t normally advocate for AI and diagnoses, but in this instance, it helped us,\u2019 Claire tells\u00a0Metro<\/strong>. \u2018I felt so glad I checked, and that it was backed up by the results, even if the GP was highly doubtful.\u2019<\/p>\n The mum is among the\u00a0hundreds of millions\u00a0<\/a>of people using AI-powered tools to ask for\u00a0health<\/a>\u00a0information and advice every week.<\/p>\n Despite its soaring popularity, healthcare experts are keen to warn\u00a0Metro\u00a0<\/strong>that while the model is knowledgeable enough to\u00a0pass medical licensing exams<\/a>, it in no way replaces a doctor.<\/p>\n Every person who uses ChatGPT said they have their reasons for turning to the general-purpose chatbot for medical advice.<\/p>\n Lisa Freeman, 42, believes that by using it, she\u2019s taking the strain off the NHS, especially as\u00a0hours-long queues for A&E<\/a>\u00a0and days-long waits for GP appointments have become all too common.<\/p>\n \u2018I don\u2019t expect a doctor \u2013 especially a busy, overworked\u00a0one \u2013 to be able to think of everything in a rushed phone call when they were talking to a toddler about chicken pox five minutes ago,\u2019 she explains.<\/p>\n Another draw to AI for some people is its perceived lack of judgment.<\/p>\n Cybersecurity advisor Bob Gourley says he loads ChatGPT when he\u2019s been up all night worrying about symptoms.<\/p>\n \u2018I would kind of describe what was going on with my body in a clumsy way, so \u201cmy chest tightens when I breathe in deeply\u201d or \u201cI\u2019ve got a weird rash for the past two weeks,\u201d and then ask for any ideas for what might be going on or for questions to ask my doctor,\u2019 he explains.<\/p>\n \u2018The most comforting thing is that it doesn\u2019t judge me about my questions. It doesn\u2019t roll its eyes or say \u201cthat\u2019s an absurd thing to worry about\u201d.\u2019<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s a stubbed toe or a morning headache \u2013 there aren\u2019t many ailments Edward Frank Morris hasn\u2019t turned to ChatGPT for input on.<\/p>\n Edward, 33, has spent years using the app for health advice, but says it\u2019s his friend\u2019s recent hospital stay for a heart attack that really tells the story of why it\u2019s so useful.<\/p>\n \u2018My friend, in his late 70s, plugged the medical report into ChatGPT after he felt a bit disenchanted by the bed manner of the doctor,\u2019 the AI advisor explains.<\/p>\n \u2018The app, however, was empathetic, told him exactly what the report was saying, and how severe it was in a gentle way.\u2019<\/p>\n Edward, from Southampton, often gives ChatGPT the same prompt before consulting it: \u2018Act like a medical professional.\u2019<\/p>\n In one conversation that Edward shared with\u00a0Metro<\/strong>, ChatGPT responded: \u2018Absolutely. I\u2019m glad you reached out \u2014 I\u2019ll approach this as a medical professional would: calmly, clearly and with care.\u2019<\/p>\n This \u2019empathy\u2019, Edward says, is why he thinks the elderly would especially benefit from AI models.<\/p>\n \u2018Having access to technology that can be kind, talk at your level, and even offer artificial comfort is huge,\u2019 he says. \u2018Especially when each sickness, chronic illness, or even a fall could lead you to death.\u2019<\/p>\n Chatbots can simplify medical jargon, write questions to ask doctors or walk through a treatment plan.<\/p>\n But AI isn\u2019t without problems \u2013 a man\u00a0wound up in hospital with an 18th-century disease\u00a0<\/a>after ChatGPT allegedly gave him dangerous diet advice.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just patients embracing AI, either. More than half of GPs use it in their clinical practice, according to a\u00a0survey\u00a0<\/a>by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the health organisation Nuffield Trust.<\/p>\n![\"'My](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280756928-c2df.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
<\/div>\u2018I don\u2019t expect a rushed doctor to think of everything\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"METRO](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280068721-3ee4.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
<\/div>![\"'My](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_281778208-c154.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
<\/div>![\"CHONGQING,](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/SEI_261586791-0148.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
<\/div>\u2018I tell ChatGPT to act like a medical professional\u2019<\/h2>\n
![\"'My](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI_280756934-8150.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
<\/div>It isn\u2019t without error<\/h2>\n